Problem solving

Algebra Angles in
Multiplication Perimeter 1
pyramid triangles 1
Cube Linear Angles in
Perimeter 2
numbers equation 1 triangles 2
Prime Linear Angles in
Perimeter 3
numbers equation 2 triangles 3
Prime Linear Angles in
Perimeter 4
numbers 2 equation 3 triangles 4
Angles in
Factors Simultaneous equations 1 Area rules 1 polygons 1
Angles in
Multiples 1 Simultaneous equations 2 Area rules 2 polygons 2
Overlapping
Multiples 2 Simultaneous equations 3
squares
Index laws
Equivalent Overlapping
Gradient circles
Fractions 3
ratios
Percentage of Visualisation
Being systematic Fractions 4
amount 1
Visualisation Percentage
Fractions 1 Linear equation 4
change
2
Logic Fractions 2 Constructions Pie charts
Use the digits 1 to 6, once only, in
the six boxes to make the
multiplication sum correct

5 4
3
1 6 2
How many ways can this
Canbe
youdone?
be sure?
 Can you complete this cross-
number?
1 2
Across Down
1. A cube 1. One less than a cube
3
3. A cube x

The only two-digit cubes are 33 = 27 and 43 = 64

So either 1 2 Or 1 2
2 7 6 4
3 3
6 4 2 7

1 Down is one less than a cube so must be 26

Hence 3 Across must be 64
 The sum of three different prime numbers is 40.
What is the difference between the two larger primes?

2 must be one of the numbers,

as all other primes are odd and
there must be exactly two odd
numbers to give an even total.
So the other two primes add up to 38
The only pair that fits is 7 and 31

Their difference is 24
 Only one choice of the digit d gives prime numbers
when you read across and down in the diagram below.
Which digit is d?

5
1 d 3
7

A 5 B 6 C 7

Hint: consider the test for divisibility by 3

Vertically, 5 + 7 = 12 so d cannot be 6
Horizontally, 1 + 3 = 4 so d cannot be 5
Which leaves d = 7
A census taker approaches a house and asks the woman who answers the door
"How many children do you have, and what are their ages?"
Woman: "I have three children, the product of their ages are 36, the
sum of their ages are equal to the address of the house next door."
The census taker walks next door, comes back and says "I need more information."
The woman replies "I have to go, my oldest child is sleeping upstairs."
Census taker: "Thank you, I now have everything I need."
What are the ages of each of the three children?

The possible ages, based on their product being 36: Product Sum
1 1 36 38
1 2 18 21
Looking at the house number next door is
1 3 12 16
only inconclusive if the number is 13, as
there are two combinations with this sum 1 4 9 14
1 6 6 13
2 29 13
As the woman has an oldest child, they
must be the 2, 2 and 9 combination! 23 6 11
33 4 10
 What is the largest multiple you can make using the digits below?
You dont have to use each digit and can use each one at most once

2 3 4 5

Multiple of 2 Multiple of 3 Multiple of 6

Number must be even Digits must sum Must be a multiple

to a multiple of 3 of 2 and 3
5432
Dont use the 2 as this
534
is the smallest value
you can remove to
obtain a multiple of 3
543

What are the smallest and largest multiples of 4 you can make using all the digits below?

Last 2 digits must 4 5 6 7 8

be divisible by 4
Smallest 45768 Largest 87564
Beth, Carol and George love reading their favourite bedtime story together.
They take it in turns to read a page, always in the order Beth, then Carol, then George.
All twenty pages of the story are read on each occasion.
One evening, Beth is staying at Grandmas house but Carol and George still read the
same story and take it in turns to read a page with Carol reading the first page.
In total, how many pages are read by the person who usually reads that page?

Carol normally reads the 2nd, 5th, 8th, pages but on this occasion
reads every odd page. These coincide on the 5th, 11th, 17th pages.

George normally reads the 3rd, 6th, 9th, pages but on this occasion
reads every even page. These coincide on the 6th, 12th, 18th pages.

This gives a total of 6 pages read by the usual person

 In a sale, an item is reduced by 20% and as
a result makes only a 4% profit on the cost
to the shop-keeper.
What percentage profit would the shop-
keeper have made if the item had sold at
full price?
c = cost price s = selling price

You know that 0.8s 1.04c

s 1.04
0 .8

c 8 c 1.3c
10.4
i.e. 30% profit
 A swimming club has junior, senior and veteran members.
The ratio of juniors to seniors is 3:2
The ratio of seniors to veterans is 5:2
Which of the following could be the total number of members in the club?

A 30 B 35 C 48 D 58 E 60

J:S:V
3:2
x5

15 : 10 : 4
x2

5:2

Which total could be shared in the ratio 15 : 10 : 4? Only 58

 After playing 500 games, my success rate at Angry Birds is 49%.
Assuming I win every game from now on, how many extra games
do I need to play in order that my success rate increases to 50%?

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 10 (e) 50

1% of 500 is 5, so 49% is 245 games won so far

246
If I win 1 more, this gives 50%
501
247
If I win 2 more, this gives 50%
502
250
If I win 5 more, this gives 50%
505
255
If I win 10 more, this gives 50%
510

I must play 10 more times

 A cube with 3cm sides is painted red on the outside.
The cube is then split into cubes with 1cm sides.

What fraction of the total surface area of the new

cubes is red?

3 sides painted = 8

2 sides painted = 1 x 12 = 12

1 side painted = 1 x 6 = 6

No sides painted = 1
Total = 27

8
27
1
2
12
27 1
3
6
27
1
6
4
27 4
27 1
27 9
27 1
3
The numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are to be placed, one per
square, in the diagram shown such that the four numbers
in the horizontal row and the four numbers in the vertical
column add up to 21.
Which number should replace x?
Total in all squares = 2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = 35

Total of row + column

= 42
But this is the total on all squares + x
x So x=7
 What is the value of
1
26
1
62

1
26
1
62
1
26
1
23 2
1
26
1
2 2 32
32
24
2 6 32 2 6 32

25
2 6 32

52
2 3
3 2

5 2

1
26
1
62
5
24
24
In this number pyramid, the two
numbers below are a block are
added to give its value.
Find the value of x

x a b 270 x
x 360
a 102 b 168 a b 90

a 12 90 b 78

12 a b 78
John, Paul, George and Ringo have their 12th, 14th, 15th and 15th birthdays today.
How many years will it be till their combined age reaches 100?

If n years pass, their ages will be:

John: 12 n

Paul: 14 n

George: 15 n

Ringo: 15 n

Total: 56 4n

Now solve the equation 56 4n 100

56 4n 44
4 n 11

In 11 years time
Three-quarters of the area of the rectangle has
been shaded.

What is the value of x?

x Unshaded areas 2 x
2 62x 8
x 4 6 x
2
24 3 x

4 24 3 x
So rectangle area
6 But rectangle area = 6 x 8 = 48

24 3 x 12

6 x4
 Q is an enlargement of P, scale factor 3, from centre O.
Find the value of x

x3

x2
O
P
Q

3 x 2 x 2 x 3
3x 6 2 x 1
x7
 Peter has three times as many sisters as brothers.
His sister Louise has twice as many sisters as brothers.
How many children are there in the family?

Let b = number of boys and g = number of girls

Peter has three times as many sisters as brothers 3 b 1 g (1)

Louise has twice as many sisters as brothers 2b g 1 (2)

(1) 3b 3 g 3b g 3

(2) g 2b 1

b4
Sub in (2) g 9

There are 4 + 9 = 13 children

 Wobbly weights
Weighing the baby at the clinic was a problem

The baby would not keep still and caused the scales to wobble

So I held the baby and stood on the scales while the nurse read off 78 kg

Then the nurse held the baby while I read off 69 kg

p b 78
Finally I held the nurse while the baby read off 137 kg
n b 69
What is the combined weight of all three? p n 137

2 p 2n 2b 284
Weight of parent = p
p n b 142
Weight of nurse = n
Weight of baby = b

A 142 kg B 147 kg C 206 kg D 215 kg E 284 kg

 I write down three positive numbers a, b and c
The product of a and b is 2.
The product of b and c is 24.
The product of c and a is 3.
What is the sum of all three numbers?
ab 2 1
bc 24 2
ac 3 3
1 2 3 a 2b 2c 2 2 24 3 abc 2 144 abc 12

c6
Comparing with equation (1)
a 12
Comparing with equation (2)
b4
Comparing with equation (3)

So sum is 10
 The two shapes are made up of the same pieces.
Where did the hole come from?

Gradient 5
2

Gradient 7
3

Hence the shapes are different (and neither is a triangle!)

 The interior angles of a triangle are (5x+3y) o,
(3x+20)o and (10y+30)o where x and y are
whole numbers.
What is the value of x+y?
(a) 15 (b) 14 (c) 13 (d) 12 (e)
11 Summing angles gives8 x 13 y 50

5 x 3 y But the angles in a triangle sum to 180o

Hence 8 x 13 y 130

To understand the effect of

the different values offered
3x 20 10 y 30 8 to
for x+y, factorise y 5 y 130
x obtain

Trying the different options:

x y 15 5 y 10 y 2 which is possible
x y 14 5 y 18 y 3.6which is not a whole number
x y 13 5 y 26 y 5.2which is not a whole number
x y 12 5 y 34 y 6.8which is not a whole number
x y 11 5 y 42 y 8.4which is not a whole number
The only answer giving whole numbers is (a) 15
There are six more girls than boys in Miss Spellings class of
24 pupils.
What is the ratio of girls to boys in this class?

(a) 5:3 (b) 4:1 (c) 3:1 (d) 1:4 (e)

3:5
Number of boys = x
Number of girls = x + 6
Total pupils = 2x + 6
But total = 24
2 x 6 24
2 x 18
x9
9 boys
15 girls

Ratio girls to boys = 15:9

= 5:3
 What is the value of the expression
1 12 1 13 1 14 ... 1 9981 1 9991

3 4 5 999 1000
... 500
2 3 4 998 999
The shape shown is made up of three rectangles,
each measuring 3cm by 1cm.
What is the perimeter of the shape?

Perimeter of rectangles = 3 x 8 = 24
Meeting edges = 2 x (3 + 1) = 8
16cm
Each side of an isosceles triangle is a whole number of cm. Its perimeter is 20cm.
How many possibilities are there for the length of its sides?

1, 1, 18

2, 2, 16

3, 3, 14 Not possible

4, 4, 12

5, 5, 10

6, 6, 8 The equal sides must have a total length which

is greater than the length of the third side
7, 7, 6

8, 8, 4

9, 9, 2 There are 4 possibilities

 The parallelogram shown in the diagram has been
divided into nine smaller parallelograms. The
perimeters, in cm, of four of the smaller
parallelograms are shown. The perimeter of WXYZ is
21cm. f
W d e X
What is the perimeter of the shaded parallelogram?
c 4
b 11 5

a 8
Z Y
2 a e 2 c e 2 b d 2 b f
otal perimeter for given shapes
2 a b c d e f 2 b e
Perimeter of Perimeter of
WXYZ shaded
8 4 11 5 21 7
So perimeter of shaded shape shape
A 3 x 8 rectangle is cut into two pieces along the dotted line shown.
The two pieces are then rearranged to form a right-angled triangle.
What is the perimeter of the triangle formed?

Perimeter = 24cm

10cm 6cm

3cm

8cm
 Which shapes area is different to the others?

A C B

23
2
3 1 3 3

32
2
3
D E

Hard to tell come back 1 3 3

to it! are all
As the others
definitely 3, this must be Can you work out Ds area?
9 2 223 21 2 21
the odd one out!
 The area of JGK is 20cm2
Can you find the areas of every other shape?

A 4 B 4 C 4 D
4 4
2 8
4 4 4 16 428 4 24 4
ADHK is a square, length 12 cm
F
E G AB = BC = CD = AE
4 8
BE is parallel to CF
88
32
2 EI is parallel to FJ
GE is parallel to AD
8 4 8 32
8
?8
2 20
38
2 12

H 3 I 4 J 5 K
Three identical squares overlap as shown.
The areas of the overlapping sections are 2cm2, 5cm2 and 8cm2.
The areas of the non-overlapping parts of the squares are 117cm 2.
What are the lengths of the sides of the squares?

Total area = non-overlapping

+ 2 x overlapping

= 117 + 2 x (2 + 5 + 8)
= 147cm2

Each square = 49cm2

Side of each square = 7cm

Prove that the red areas and the pink areas
are the same If radius of small circles = r

large circle 2r 4r= small circles

2 2

So overlap = remainder

ie red = pink
Imagine two identical isosceles triangles.
Put sides of equal length together.
Describe the resulting shape. Is it the only possibility?

Rhombus
Kite Parallelogram

If the isosceles triangles were right-angled

Isosceles triangle Square

A solid square-based pyramid has all of its corners cut off, as shown.
How many edges does the resulting shape have?

8 + 4 + 4 x 3 = 24
The diagram shows two equilateral triangles.
Find the size of angle x

x
60o
80o

80o
60 o x = 40o
60o
75o 45o 55o 65o
In this triangle, the internal bisectors
of the angles at Q and R meet at S.
What is the size of angle QSR?
P

40 o
PQR + PRQ = 140o

so SQR + SRQ = 70o

S then QSR = 110o

Q R
What is the sum of the six marked angles?

Five points make 5 x 360 = 1800o

Two triangles make 2 x 180 = 360o
1440o
What is the sum of the marked angles now?!

Four triangles make 720o

Quadrilateral makes 360o
360o
 The diagram a regular pentagon and
a regular hexagon which overlap.
Find the size of angle x

60o 36o
x

x = 84o
A pupil has three tiles.
One is a regular octagon, one is a regular hexagon, and one is a square.
The side length of each tile is the same.
The pupil says the hexagon will fit exactly like this.

Why is the pupil wrong?

Interior angle of square = 90o

Interior angle of hexagon = 120o

135 90
Interior angle of octagon = 135o

90 + 120 + 135 = 345o

120

Diagram not As the total angle is less

drawn accurately than 360o, the shapes will
not meet exactly at a point
Solve 2 x
2 2 2 2

2x 4 2
1
2 2 2
x 2 2

2 12
2 2
x

x 2 12
 The diagram shows a square with side length 1,
divided into four rectangles whose areas are equal.
What is the length labelled x?
x

1 3
x 14 83 4 8

1 3
1
4
8
3 4 4

128 1
4

2
3
1 1
4 4

1
nly one of these triangles can actually be made. Which is it
Not possible triangle Not possible must be
cant be isosceles with that the longer the side,
these angles the bigger the angle
opposite
25o
3cm 20o B
A 4cm 4cm
25o 110o 130o 30o
3cm C 7cm 5cm
8cm

30o Not possible

D Pythagoras theorem 2cm
3cm 6cm 42 7 2
doesnt 82
hold E 6cm
60o

Hard to tell come back 3cm

As the others
to it! are all
Not possible the
impossible, so
longest side must be
this one must be (in fact it is
less than the sum of the
half an equilateral triangle
equencies for green, red, blue and yellow could create these pie

a b c

blue 2 red green yellow red 3 yellow

6 yellow

If frequency of green = n
yello
green red blue
w
frequencies?
n 3n 6n n